Carnival glass bowls are part of a larger collection of collectable items called carnival glass. Carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass to which an iridescent coating has been applied, giving it an oil-like sheen. The process is sometimes known as doping, leading some glass manufacturers to call it "dope glass". It originated in the early 1900s, and production waned in the mid to late thirties.

The glass manufacturer Fenton is the first, largest and widely recognized producer of carnival glass. To start with, this company decorated blank glass produced by other companies. In 1907 they started creating carnival glass. Fenton marketed its glassware immediately after starting production as "Iridill" or iridescent ware. This became popular and many other companies followed suit by making and marketing their own carnival glass bowls.

In the late twenties, demand for their products began to wane. This was due to the decrease in sales during the Depression, and also in part to the saturation of the market by glass companies. To get rid of stock, companies began selling their wares at deeply discounted prices to carnivals, which the carnivals then used as prizes for their games. Several companies went out of business during this period.

In the fifties, carnival glass bowls experienced a resurgence in popularity. Glass collectors coined the term "carnival glass" for these creations after learning of their term as carnival prizes. Several companies began making reproductions, and to this day carnival glass, especially antique Fenton glass, is a prized collectable.

If you're looking for carnival glass, your best bet presently would be auctions, antique shops or online for various prices. Fenton antique glass in particular fetches high prices, along with other popular carnival glass. Marigold and dark hues - such as blue and green - are some of the most common colors. Red pastel colored carnival glass bowls are the most prized and expensive variety. One rare ice-blue colored plate in particular sold for an amazing $16,327.55 on a popular auction website!

These are many ways to collect more information about antique collectibles- books, websites, newsletters, and other documents will help any interested person find out about the designs, shapes, and sizes of antiques available. Many organizations are devoted to bringing collectors together to help them learn more about collecting.

Carnival glass bowls are produced by pressing the glass and coating it with an iridescent coating which gives it shiny look. The largest producer of carnival glass was Fenton glassware. When demand began to decline in the late twenties, companies began selling their wares at deep discounts to carnivals, which gave away the glass as prizes. You can find carnival glass everywhere. Antique Fenton glass and other well-known producers command higher prices. Common colors include marigold, blue, and green. Red or pastel bowls are the most prized. A rare ice-blue plate sold for $16,327.55! There are lots resources for collectors, including web sites, books, and collector organizations.